I really am not sure this is going to be a good idea. I find their concept of offering basic catering plus the possibility to buy more rather good and rather successful. Now, of course, that basic catering offer is going to get carried off with the wind and the offering will be completely BOB, no free drink, no free snack. So, certainly a classic 'enhancement'

What I find odd is the fact that business class has been going through a major decline on European flights now, to the point where I thought it was going to disappear altogether. But it seems that Alitalia has recently improved their offering, so perhaps Etihad is behind all of this.

I do feel, however, that they should offer more catering on longer European flights (such as to the Canaries), or at least a properly catered BOB trolley, not one that runs out of food by row 3 already.

It appears to be in particular a downgrade of status benefits (row 1) and of catering on domestic and intra European flights. They ask me for double or three times the fare for the same service I currently receive for my cheap Eco ticket as a Platinum member

Row 1 is the row I try to avoid like the plague. No handluggage stowage so for takeoff and landing you have to stow your laptop and jacket in the overhead bin and the bin above your seat is not available for stowage because of equipment and staff luggage. Also no regular tray table and a smaller seat without flexible armrest.

I have a feeling it's not going to help their financial situation one jot, although I am ignorant as to how the whole thing will work. One single row of business class seems absurd. They would be better to make two rows and make them decent business seats. But I will miss the free snack and drink in economy.

It appears to be in particular a downgrade of status benefits (row 1) and of catering on domestic and intra European flights. They ask me for double or three times the fare for the same service I currently receive for my cheap Eco ticket as a Platinum member

Oh they must be in a real mess, they're trying anything now. (almost as drastic as the BTS-VIE route!)

I really don't think this will help them very much. In the past I've always chosen NIKI over Iberia because the service was rather good for economy, but now I'll probably choose IB if the timings are better.

The concept is very similar to SAS+ on european routes. This is certainly good news for me as a BA Gold. I can now use AB for topping up my TP-level. Also, I can actually fly AB as I don't fly economy if I can avoid it.

Now, will that mean a nice lounge at Tegel? The ARN lounge at Terminal 2 is not that bad but often crowded.

Row 1 is the row I try to avoid like the plague. No handluggage stowage so for takeoff and landing you have to stow your laptop and jacket in the overhead bin and the bin above your seat is not available for stowage because of equipment and staff luggage. Also no regular tray table and a smaller seat without flexible armrest.

This is a move to complement the hub concept EY is forcing onto AB: offer C seating for pax who have booked C longhaul from TXL or DUS on AB or EY.

... and sneak in a cut in service for the rest of the pax. Nearly no one will book the C seats stand alone and 99% of the public is annoyed they loose the minimal catering offered previously on regional Y. 🙅